Mormon Stories Podcast

Carol Lynn Pearson, author and longtime advocate for women and LGBTQ Mormons, discusses her book The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy. She explores polygamy's origins, its harms to women, men, and children, and shares survey stories revealing fear and family strain. She proposes reforms for healing and imagines a future of gender partnership and justice.

Carol Lynn Pearson, acclaimed Mormon author, poet, playwright, and activist for women and LGBTQ+ people. She recounts her marriage and loss, the writing of Goodbye, I Love You, and how theater and memoir shaped her outreach. Conversations explore feminism, Heavenly Mother imagery, Prop 8 activism, HIV/AIDS caregiving, and practical advice for families and young people.

Colby Reddish, a practicing attorney who engages with Mormonism and law, and Bart Ehrman, bestselling New Testament scholar, discuss Bible origins, textual variants, and how scripture was compiled. They cover creation accounts, Gospel contradictions, historicity of Jesus, Book of Mormon claims, and Ehrman’s new book Love Thy Stranger. The conversation navigates faith, scholarship, and religion’s social role.

In this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we speak with Christopher Jenkins, a former LDS bishop, about his personal experience with the Church’s abuse hotline. While serving as bishop in Washington, a ward member confessed abuse to him. When Christopher called the Church’s hotline for guidance, he says he was told he was not a mandatory reporter and felt pressured not to report the abuse to authorities.Christopher walks us through both calls he made to the hotline, the legal framing of the guidance he received, and the lack of follow-up afterward. He also discusses broader issues surrounding clergy confidentiality, how reporting requirements vary by jurisdiction, and what he perceived as the Church’s focus on institutional liability rather than victim care.We also explore how he now views mandatory reporting laws, the Church’s opposition to certain reporting requirements in Washington, and larger questions about abuse prevention, bishop training, and accountability. Christopher shares how this experience, along with navigating life as the father of LGBTQ+ children, contributed to significant shifts in his faith.This conversation centers on leadership responsibility, ethical decision-making, and what happens when institutional guidance conflicts with personal conscience.___________________YouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor todayOne-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/joinOur Platforms:🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes 🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories ✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772 🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories 📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast 🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF Contact us:📧 MormonStories@gmail.com📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117

John G. Turner, historian and author of a landmark Joseph Smith biography, guides a deep dive into Chapter 26. He unpacks how Smith responded to insider dissent, the public smears against Sarah Pratt and Nancy Rigdon, the Bennett and Pratt scandals, legal pressures from Missouri, and the leadership’s efforts to defend authority under crisis.

Edward Nachel, a former stake high councilman who once helped excommunicate Wade Christofferson, gives a firsthand account of secrecy and institutional handling of abuse allegations. He recounts closed disciplinary procedures, the absence of victims or advocates, later remorse, and calls for transparency and reform. Multiple short, candid scenes explore how secrecy may have enabled further harm.

Katie Todd, raised LDS who lost her faith as a teen after encountering church history, speaks candidly about doubt and life beyond belief. Matt Todd, a lifelong Latter-day Saint and attorney, shares how he lovingly navigated his daughter’s deconversion. They discuss tough topics like polygamy, the Book of Abraham, racial priesthood history, family trust, and ways to stay connected amid deep disagreement.

Dr. John G. Turner, historian and author of Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet, examines the contested 1842 Whitney letter, sealing language, deeds, and sham marriages. He confronts modern denial arguments, weighs typescripts and affidavits, and traces contemporaneous names and legal context in Nauvoo. The conversation focuses on evidence, secrecy, and how historians evaluate ambiguous primary sources.

David Archuleta, singer-songwriter and former American Idol contestant who wrote the memoir Devout, shares his journey from an intensely Mormon upbringing to coming out and reclaiming himself. He discusses religious scrupulosity, mission struggles, interactions with leaders including M. Russell Ballard, the impact of the 2015 policy, and the path to self-acceptance and renewed happiness.

Julia Sanders, researcher and content creator exploring Mormon history; Nemo the Mormon, UK YouTuber sharing transatlantic faith experiences; Cara Burrell, Nuance Ho creator who experiments with post‑Mormon rituals; Colby Reddish, panel organizer seeking nuance. They discuss rituals that shaped identity. They unpack community, agency, awe, and how to carry meaningful practices forward outside the church.